Brady Williams, a 56-year-old reality TV personality from Salt Lake City, Utah, has described his household of five wives and 25 children as 'normal, just five times over'. The family, featured on TLC's My Five Wives, lives in two adjacent homes and has turned its back on the Mormon faith, embracing an egalitarian approach to polygamy.
Williams, who considers himself a feminist, married his first wife at age 29 and is now wed to Rosemary, Robyn, Nonie, Paulie and Rhonda—all of whom are cousins. He is legally married only to Paulie, with the others in 'spiritual unions'. The family believes in shared decision-making, with Williams stating: 'We as a family believe in an egalitarian polygamy where the women have just as much right to decide family government as the man.'
To maintain harmony, Williams rotates between wives every five days, moving to the next at midday. He claims to share a spiritual bond with all five spouses, though he acknowledges that such connections are rare in polygamous relationships. The wives reportedly coexist without jealousy, united in raising their children to choose their own lifestyle upon adulthood.
Managing such a large family requires military precision and significant resources. Williams filed for bankruptcy in 2014 amid mounting debts. Family meals are enormous: one Thanksgiving saw two turkeys, a ham, 20lbs of mashed potatoes, two gallons of gravy, and 20 pies. Williams became a grandfather in 2014 and admits he struggles to recall all his children's names in age order.
